Former
restaurant slated as new site for gym
Anytime Fitness plans move to former Kowloon building

By Laurie Arendt

March 12,
2019

The rendering shows
Anytime Fitness’ plans for the former Kowloon Chinese
restaurant in Cedarburg. The business is located on
Washington Avenue, just south of Otto’s Liquor Store.Image courtesy of the city
of Cedarburg

CEDARBURG — It was once home to one of the first Chinese
restaurants in Ozaukee County, but the building at W63
N143-145 Washington Ave. will soon start its next
chapter as the new home for Anytime Fitness.

“We will be relocating about three blocks,” owner Karmen
Nenhalo told the Plan Commission March 4 as part of the
conditional use permit review.

She recently purchased the former Kowloon Chinese
Restaurant building – the restaurant closed a few months
ago and the owners sold the building – with plans for an
extensive renovation, including the interior and all
four facades of the building.

“It looks as if it will fit in with the other buildings
in that area that have recently been renovated and
updated,” said Cedarburg Mayor Mike O’Keefe of the
design.

“We intend to reface the entire front of the building,”
she said.

“Overall, it’s a huge improvement over what is there
right now,” agreed Commissioner Sig Strautmanis, who did
question the contrast between some of the design
materials.

She noted that the plans for the Cedarburg renovation
will be similar in design and scope to the look of the
chain’s
Hartford location, which the plan commissioners
were able to review via Google Earth at the meeting.

“But we’re really open to your suggestions,” she said.

The move to the new location will open up additional
parking for members, with parking available in both the
front and back of the building.

Anytime Fitness is currently located in the Block
building, on the corner of Washington Avenue and Lincoln
Boulevard. It received approval to operate in this
building in 2010 and according to the staff report, has
operated without any issues.

The business model for Anytime Fitness allows members to
have around-the-clock access to the fitness and tanning
services through the use of a key fob. Additional
security measures are also in place, including onsite
closed-circuit cameras and log-in software. These same
measures will be installed in the new location.